Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
ZIMBABWE is intensifying efforts to modernise its national statistical systems as part of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), in a bid to strengthen evidence-based policy making, Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) Director General, Mrs Tafadzwa Bandama, has said.
Speaking in Mutare recently on the evolving role of data in national development, Mrs Bandama underscored the centrality of robust statistical systems in guiding Government programmes, allocating resources, and measuring progress across key sectors of the economy.
“As we move into the implementation phase of NDS2, the importance of data and computational development cannot be overstated. Timely, reliable and well-structured data is critical in shaping strategies, guiding planning and ensuring that national aspirations translate into measurable outcomes,” she said.
Her remarks come as Government places increasing emphasis on data-driven governance, amid growing demand for accurate, real-time information to support decision-making in areas such as social protection, agriculture, inflation tracking, and economic growth.
Mrs Bandama said Zimbabwe is working towards building an integrated and coordinated national statistical system that unites all institutions involved in the production and use of data.
“A functional national statistical system is not just about producing numbers. It is about ensuring that information flows efficiently across institutions, is consistent over time, and is fit for policy-making and decision-making,” she said.
She added that Zimbabwe’s statistical framework is being expanded to incorporate diverse data sources — including administrative records, surveys, sensors, and emerging big data platforms — to improve both the scope and timeliness of official statistics.
“Our focus is to develop sustainable data systems that draw from multiple sources. While traditional surveys remain important, we are increasingly leveraging administrative data and new technologies to complement these efforts, particularly in areas where data collection is resource-intensive,” said Mrs Bandama.
Among key initiatives underway are improvements in consumer price analysis, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measurement and preparations for major national exercises such as the agriculture census.
These, she said, are critical in expanding the coverage of national indicators used to track development.
“Incorporating big data as a complementary source of statistics will significantly enhance the timeliness and breadth of information available for both policy formulation and implementation,” she added.
However, Mrs Bandama acknowledged that despite notable progress, several challenges continue to affect the efficiency of the national statistical system.
“These include fragmentation of data systems, institutional silos and inconsistencies in definitions and methodologies across sectors. In many cases, ministries and agencies still rely on administrative data that is not fully aligned with official statistical standards,” she said.
She also highlighted skills gaps and weak coordination between data production cycles and policy needs as major impediments.
“There is often a mismatch between when data is produced and when it is required for decision-making. Addressing this requires both technical capacity and stronger institutional alignment,” she noted.
Mrs Bandama further pointed to what she described as limited appreciation of the role of statistics in development processes, warning that this undermines efforts to build a culture of data use within public institutions.
“There is still a gap in understanding the importance of statistics in policy and development. We must promote statistical awareness and ensure that data is recognised as a strategic national asset,” she said.
To address these challenges, ZimStat is investing in capacity building across ministries, departments and agencies, as well as at provincial level, to strengthen both human resources and systems involved in data production and management.
“We are focusing on strengthening capacity through training and technical support to ensure that institutions can produce, manage and utilise data effectively,” said Mrs Bandama.
A key pillar of the reform process, she added, is the establishment of strong data protocols to ensure consistency, comparability and reliability of statistics across the national system.
“Without robust data protocols, even the most well-designed statistical frameworks will not yield reliable results. Standardisation is essential if data is to inform policy in a meaningful way,” she said.
Mrs Bandama also said Government is reviewing legal and institutional frameworks governing the production of official statistics to improve coordination and data sharing among stakeholders.
“The ongoing review seeks to enhance our ability to access administrative data from ministries, departments and agencies in a more structured and predictable manner. This will allow us to move towards a more coordinated and legally supported approach to data management,” said Mrs Bandama.
She stressed the importance of collaboration between data producers, providers and users, noting that effective partnerships are critical in building a responsive and efficient statistical system.
“A strong national statistical system depends on collaboration. We must break down silos and ensure that all stakeholders work together to produce data that is relevant, timely and useful,” she said.
As the nation advances its development agenda under NDS2, Mrs Bandama said strengthening statistical systems will remain a priority, as the country seeks to align policy decisions with accurate and comprehensive data.
“Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that every policy decision is informed by credible evidence. Data must be at the centre of development if we are to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth,” she said.
